First look inside the new community bakery cafe that’s just opened in Kingswood

A well-known Bristol baker whose previous business closed earlier this year has opened a new bakery in Kingswood.

Ben Fortune ran the Warmley Bakehouse for six years until it went into liquidation earlier this year due to rising flour and energy costs and mounting debts.

But Ben, who previously worked at Bordeaux Quay restaurant and bakery in the Harbourside, has now launched The Market Bakehouse within the Indoor Market on Regent Street in Kingswood.

A hub of independent retailers that includes a butchers, haberdashers, chiropodist and florist, the Indoor Market has also opened a cafe upstairs and Ben’s bread and cakes will be sold there.

As well as a range of breads including sourdough, there is a selection of cakes such as white chocolate and cranberry flapjacks, lemon drizzle cake and chocolate fudge cake.

Ben, who has been a baker since he left school 26 years ago, says he’s thrilled to be back baking in a new location.

“After the Warmley bakery closed, I couldn’t run my own business but the people behind the Indoor Market approached me.

“They liked my bread and there isn’t anywhere in Kingswood selling sourdough. They built a bakery in an empty space downstairs and they employ me to make the bread and cakes for the cafe and to takeaway.

“A lot of my old customers came from Kingswood anyway so it seemed like a perfect spot and it’s nice to be part of the indoor market community in an area where things are on the up.”